Gas range



. 'May 24, 1938. E. s. BURCH ET AL 2,118,155

' GAS RANGE Filed Aug. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 4,1 E. s. BURCH ETAL 2,118,155

GAS RANGE Filed Aug. 28,1935 2 Sheetfi-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1938 PATENT. OFFICE GAS RANGE Elwood S. Burch and Frank J. Freeland, Dow giac, Mich., assignors to Round Oak Company, Dowagiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 28, 1935, Serial No. 38,267

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in gas ranges.

In gas ranges as heretofore constructed the valves and air shutters were more or less exposed, in order to admit adjustment thereof. constructions the cooking top did not have the proper proportions for maximum service and were more or less unsightly in appearance.

In the more recently designed ranges, efforts have been made to overcome this deficiency in cooking top constructions, but more or less difficulty has been experienced in providing a cooking top of the proper proportions for maximum service, pleasing in appearance, and at the same time providing means whereby the valves and air shutters were accessible for adjusting purposes.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cooking top for gas ranges which presents a neat appearance and also provides greater working space, while at the same time permitting ready adjustment of the valves and air shutters.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gas range cooking top construction which extends beyond and conceals the manifold, valves, and air shutters, and which is adapted for ready adjustment to provide access to the valves and air shutters for adjustment thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a gas range of a cooking top construction including a main fixed portion and a portion movable relatively thereto for permitting access to the mixing valves.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cooking top construction which provides a large working surface, is pleasing in appearance, and which readily admits access to the mixing valves for the proper adjustment of the same.

With the above objects in view, as well as others that will become apparent in the course of the following disclosure, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the same, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas range disclosing the improved cooking top construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper portion of the range showing the cooking top in position for adjustment of the'valves and air shutters.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view adjacent one end of the range showing the cooking top adjusting means.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the In such cooking top adjusted for ready access to the valves and air shutters.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front rail in section and the means carried thereby for permitting adjustment thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view showing a portion of the top frame and means associated therewith for cooperation with the means disclosed in Fig. 5. I

Referring to the drawings by reference charactors, in which like'characters designate like parts, R designates arange which may be of any suitable construction insofar as the compartment portion thereof is concerned.

The gas range R includes a gas supply manifold M to which are connected gas cocks C which in turn are in communication with valves V connected with the Venturi tubes T leading to the gas burners. Supported on the Venturi tubes T are the adjustable air shutters S. The gas cocks C-are disposed behind a front cover plate P, which plate provides a control panel as indicated in Fig. 1.

The improved cooking top comprises a top frame l0 which, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, has the front edge thereof spaced rearwardly of the front of therange for a substantial distance. Supported on the frame i0 is a hot plate II which is normally covered by covers l2. The cooking top further comprises a splasher back or fender l3 from which extend forwardly of the range end rails I4, only one of which is shown in the drawings, and which rails terminate substantially in alignment with the front edge of the frame Ill.

The cooking top is completed by a front rail I5 which as indicated in Fig. 3 is normally maintained closely adjacent the front edges of covers l2 in order to provide an uninterrupted working surface. It will benoted upon inspection of Fig. 3 that the valves and air shutters are concealed and in accordance with the present invention access to the valves and air shutters is provided by supporting the front rail l5 in a manner to permit same to be moved forwardly of the covers it as is indicated in Fig. 4, for providing adequate space for the introduction and manipulation of suitable tools in effecting an adjustment of the valves and air shutters.

The means for providing such adjustment of the rail i5 comprises a pair of lugs l6, one adably secured to the rail as by welding. The lugs l6 are in sliding engagement with bars i'I which are suitably secured as by welding to the frame 'jacent each end of the rail, and which are suit- II, the bars I 1 also preferably being bolted'to the front frame F as is indicated at l8. The lugs ii are provided with slots I! in which are received the thumb screws 2| threadedly engaged in apertures in the bars I l.

.Thus it will beseen that the rail II is capable.

are detachably secured to the front frame F by means of thumb bolts 25.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that the present invention provides a cooking top construction which gives the range as a whole a highly improved appearance, and which also provides a relatively large working surface, while at the sametime permitting ready access to the mixing valves.

When it is desired to gain access to the valves for adjustment or repair thereof, the covers I! are removed, or may be hinged at the back thus permitting them to be raisedfrom the hot plate or grate H, the hot plate is then removed, thereby providing'access to the screws 2| for releasing the rail I! for movement to the position indi cated in Fig. 4.

If the range is a four-burner model, as illustrated,.the right hand screw 2! can readily be reached by removing the drawer D indicated in Fig. 1. In a sixor eight-bumer model wherein the drawer would be replaced by a manifold assembly both screws would of course be reached from the top by removing the hot plate.

Whilewe have disclosed a specific embodiment of our invention, same is to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive, and that we are at liberty to 'make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the subioined claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a gas range, a top frame, a front frame in spaced relation to said top frame, a plurality of burners, mixing valves for said burners alined with the space between said frames, a grate supported on said top frame, a rail having an upper surface substantially coplanar with the upper surface of said grate, and means for supporting said rail for horizontal movement toward and from said grate for closing and opening saidspace, said means comprising a pair of bars extending across said space and connected to said frames, a pair of horizontally slotted lugs on said rail for sliding engagement with said bars, thumb screws supported by said bars, and. extending through said slots, and lugs'on said front frame for supporting and guiding said rail.

2. In a cooking range, a front frame, a top frame, a grate supported on said top frame, a rail disposed forwardly-of said grate for providing therewith a relatively large working top, and means supporting said rail for horizontal movement toward and from said grate, said means comprising rail engaging members supported by said front frame and cooperating rail supporting and guiding members supported by said top frame and said rail.

3. A cooking range comprising a supporting frame structure, a plurality. of burners, a grate supported by said frame structure above said burners, mixing valves-for said burners forward-. ly of said grate, a rail disposed forwardly of said grate and normally above said mixing valves for providing with said grate a substantially uninte'rrupted working top, and supporting and guiding means for horizontal movement of said rail away from said grate for providing access tosaid mixing valves, said supporting and guiding means comprising rail engaging lugs supported by said frame structure, and horizontally disposed cooperating members supported by said frame structure and said rail.

4. In combination with a range including a front frame, a cooking top'construction comprising a top frame having a front edge in spaced relation to said front frame and agrate supported on said top frame, a member disposed forwardly of said grate for providing therewith a relatively large and substantially uninterrupted working surface, said member normally bridging the space between said frames and being supported by means providing for horizontal movement of said member away from said grate to provide access to the interior of said range through said space, said supporting means comprising lugs supported by. said front frame, and

cooperating longitudinally disposed lugs and bars supported by said member and top frame. re-

' spectively, said first lugs embodying horizontally disposed flanges engaging the under face of said member and said cooperating lugs and bars having screw and slot engagement for relative longitudinal movement thereof upon longitudinal movement of said member.

. ELWOOD S, BURCH.

FRANK J. FREELAN'D. 

